Ebro Foods rice and pasta brands merger
The combined rice and pasta products portfolio will include such brands as Minute, Success and Ronzoni.

HOUSTON — Ebro Foods, S.A. has unveiled plans to merge its U.S. rice and pasta companies on Jan. 1, 2017, a move that will create the largest manufacturer and marketer of rice products and the second largest producer and distributor of pasta products in the United States.

The merger will bring together Riviana Foods Inc., American Rice, Inc. and New World Pasta Co. The companies will be headquartered in Houston with a satellite office in Harrisburg, Pa., and will operate under the Riviana Foods name.

The companies have manufacturing facilities in seven U.S. states and in Canada through Catelli Foods Corp., a subsidiary of Riviana Foods. Catelli is the largest pasta manufacturer and distributor in Canada.

Ebro Foods pasta and rice
The merger will combine Ebro Foods' U.S. rice and pasta companies on Jan. 1, 2017.

The combined rice and pasta products portfolio will include such brands as Minute, Mahatma, Carolina, Success, Gourmet House, Adolphus, Blue Ribbon, Ronzoni, Skinner, Prince, American Beauty, San Giorgio, Creamette and No Yolks. Total sales of the merged companies are about $1.5 billion.

Madrid, Spain-based Ebro Foods entered the U.S. market in 2004 through its acquisition of Riviana Foods, which purchased American Rice in 2011. Since 2006, when Ebro Foods acquired New World Pasta, the companies have been integrating their businesses and taking advantage of synergies to benefit their customers and consumers.

Bastiaan de Zeeuw, Ebro Foods
Bastiaan de Zeeuw, president and c.e.o. of Riviana Foods
“We have successfully brought together the core strengths of the companies, including an extensive portfolio of brands and products,” said Bastiaan de Zeeuw, president and chief executive officer of the merged companies. “In addition, by combining our operations and distribution networks, we will even better fulfill our commitment to customer service, product quality, better efficiencies, innovation and growth.”